<p>The Calgary Flames didn&#8217;t have a great first period on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. But man, if you toss out the first 10 minutes or so, they were <em>really</em> good against a Sharks team that entered the game with the 32nd-best record out of the NHL&#8217;s 32 teams.</p>
<p><em class="text-lg italic"><b>Be sure to check out the latest <a class="text-accent" href="https://betway.com/en/sports/grp/ice-hockey/north-america/nhl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NHL playoff odds</a> with online sportsbook Betway.</b></em></p>
<p>The Flames rallied back from a 2-0 deficit and beat the Sharks by a 3-2 score in overtime, bolstered by a pair of power play goals.</p>
<p></p>
<h2><strong>The rundown</strong></h2>
<p>The Flames were pretty flat in the first half of the first period, as they had some lapses in defensive coverage and it led to a few good Sharks scoring chances. One of them opened the scoring.</p>
<p>A bit of soft defensive coverage in the neutral zone caused Rasmus Andersson to cheat over to cover the puck-carrier (Mikael Granlund), leaving William Eklund open (as he got behind Martin Pospisil in the neutral zone). Granlund made a smart pass to Eklund, who beat Dustin Wolf with a nice backhand shot to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">William Eklund opens the scoring in San Jose <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJSharks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SJSharks</a><br />🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/Sy46qx3oMa">pic.twitter.com/Sy46qx3oMa</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1777892095065501771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>First period shots were 9-8 Sharks (all five-on-five) and, via Natural Stat Trick, five-on-five scoring chances were 6-5 Flames (high-dangers were 2-2).</p>
<p>Early in the second period, a turnover inside the Flames blueline led to a second Sharks goal. On an attempted zone exit play, Mike Hoffman swatted the puck off Yegor Sharangovich&#8217;s stick and that led to a great scoring chance for Jacob MacDonald. MacDonald fired the puck past Wolf to make it 2-0 Sharks.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jacob McDonald puts the Sharks up 2-0 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJSharks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SJSharks</a><br />🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/fhfXEWJM3n">pic.twitter.com/fhfXEWJM3n</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1777903652839285202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>But the Flames answered back off a really nice puck management sequence in the Sharks zone. The Flames got into the zone and went to work on the cycle. Matt Coronato, from the point, found a pinching Rasmus Andersson down low with a great pass. Andersson cut to the slot and scored on his own rebound to cut San Jose&#8217;s lead to 2-1.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rasmus Andersson goes into beast mode on this shift and scores the Flames first goal of the game! </p>
<p>2-1 San Jose <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJSharks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SJSharks</a><br />🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/BUuhJxOkeR">pic.twitter.com/BUuhJxOkeR</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1777905018986967210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Later on, the Flames tied the game on the power play. They cycled the puck and tried one of their below the goal line passing sequences, but the puck blooped out from the side of the net to the far side of the slot for Nazem Kadri. Kadri simply put the puck on net and got it past Mackenzie Blackwood to tie the game up at 2-2.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nazem Kadri scores on the power play! We&#39;re all tied up! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJSharks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SJSharks</a><br />🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/AjZ9iAL14s">pic.twitter.com/AjZ9iAL14s</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1777909592657469679?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Second period shots were 15-9 Flames (10-8 Flames at five-on-five) and five-on-five scoring chances were 13-7 Flames (high-dangers were 7-3 Flames).</p>
<p>Both teams had their looks and pressed at times during the third period, but neither team was able to bury their chances. The Flames had the puck a lot more than the Sharks and carried play.</p>
<p>Third period shots were 13-3 Flames (12-1 Flames at five-on-five) and five-on-five scoring chances were 16-3 Flames (high-dangers were 6-2 Flames).</p>
<p>The Flames killed off a late third period penalty that carried over into overtime, then drew a penalty of their own. On the resulting power play, with the Flames using four forwards – Andrei Kuzmenko, Sharangovich, Jonathan Huberdeau and Kadri – Kuzmenko scored on a goal-mouth scramble to give the Flames a 3-2 victory.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Andrei Kuzmenko ends the game in overtime! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJSharks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SJSharks</a><br />🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/weMoZqxvIL">pic.twitter.com/weMoZqxvIL</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1777927333758001210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2><strong>Why the Flames won</strong></h2>
<p>The Flames were not all that good in the first 10-12 minutes of this game. They were shaky and didn&#8217;t seem to play as a connected group. But after being down in shots 7-2 at one point, they really started figuring themselves out. They were pretty strong for the last 40-48 minutes of the game. (They out-shot the Sharks 38-15 after that initial slow start.)</p>
<p>The power play was also quite good, scoring twice, and the penalty kill was good, too, allowing zero goals.</p>
<p><em><strong>Flames Game Day content is presented by Betway!</strong></em></p>
<h2><a href="https://betway.com/bwp/flamesnation/en-ca/?utm_source=228386&amp;utm_medium=Affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=AFF4115833285422425"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-123581" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/1266225-_Podcast_Flames_Nation_1920x1080-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/1266225-_Podcast_Flames_Nation_1920x1080-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/1266225-_Podcast_Flames_Nation_1920x1080-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/1266225-_Podcast_Flames_Nation_1920x1080-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/1266225-_Podcast_Flames_Nation_1920x1080-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/1266225-_Podcast_Flames_Nation_1920x1080-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></h2>
<h2><strong>Red Warrior</strong></h2>
<p>Let&#8217;s give this jointly to Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar. Each guy played north of 26 minutes and were consistently noticeable in all three zones.</p>
<h2><strong>Turning point</strong></h2>
<p>Blake Coleman took a cross-checking minor with 1:16 left in regulation. The Flames did a really nice job killing that man advantage to get to extra time.</p>
<h2><strong>This and that</strong></h2>
<p>Andrew Mangiapane returned after missing five games due to injury. Oliver Kylington missed the game after suffering an upper-body injury late in Saturday&#8217;s game. Dustin Wolf started in his hometown – he was born in nearby Gilroy, California – and former Sharks defender Nikita Okhotiuk played against his former team. Ilya Solovyov also dressed after being called up on Monday from the AHL.</p>
<p>Martin Pospisil squished Calen Addison into the glass in the first period (and received a boarding minor for it).</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oh no, poor Addison <a href="https://t.co/8O0UOa4l5t">pic.twitter.com/8O0UOa4l5t</a></p>
<p>&mdash; JD Young (@MyFryHole) <a href="https://twitter.com/MyFryHole/status/1777896433183773131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2><strong>Up next</strong></h2>
<p>The Flames (35-37-5) are off to Southern California. They&#8217;ll face the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.</p>

The Calgary Flames didn't have a great first period on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. But man, if you toss out the first 10 minutes or so, they were <em>really</em> good against a Sharks team that entered the game with the 32nd-best record out of the NHL's 32 teams.

<em class="text-lg italic"><b>Be sure to check out the latest <a class="text-accent" href="https://betway.com/en/sports/grp/ice-hockey/north-america/nhl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NHL playoff odds</a> with online sportsbook Betway.</b></em>

The Flames rallied back from a 2-0 deficit and beat the Sharks by a 3-2 score in overtime, bolstered by a pair of power play goals.


<h2><strong>The rundown</strong></h2>
The Flames were pretty flat in the first half of the first period, as they had some lapses in defensive coverage and it led to a few good Sharks scoring chances. One of them opened the scoring.

A bit of soft defensive coverage in the neutral zone caused Rasmus Andersson to cheat over to cover the puck-carrier (Mikael Granlund), leaving William Eklund open (as he got behind Martin Pospisil in the neutral zone). Granlund made a smart pass to Eklund, who beat Dustin Wolf with a nice backhand shot to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1777892095065501771

First period shots were 9-8 Sharks (all five-on-five) and, via Natural Stat Trick, five-on-five scoring chances were 6-5 Flames (high-dangers were 2-2).

Early in the second period, a turnover inside the Flames blueline led to a second Sharks goal. On an attempted zone exit play, Mike Hoffman swatted the puck off Yegor Sharangovich's stick and that led to a great scoring chance for Jacob MacDonald. MacDonald fired the puck past Wolf to make it 2-0 Sharks.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1777903652839285202

But the Flames answered back off a really nice puck management sequence in the Sharks zone. The Flames got into the zone and went to work on the cycle. Matt Coronato, from the point, found a pinching Rasmus Andersson down low with a great pass. Andersson cut to the slot and scored on his own rebound to cut San Jose's lead to 2-1.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1777905018986967210

Later on, the Flames tied the game on the power play. They cycled the puck and tried one of their below the goal line passing sequences, but the puck blooped out from the side of the net to the far side of the slot for Nazem Kadri. Kadri simply put the puck on net and got it past Mackenzie Blackwood to tie the game up at 2-2.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1777909592657469679

Second period shots were 15-9 Flames (10-8 Flames at five-on-five) and five-on-five scoring chances were 13-7 Flames (high-dangers were 7-3 Flames).

Both teams had their looks and pressed at times during the third period, but neither team was able to bury their chances. The Flames had the puck a lot more than the Sharks and carried play.

Third period shots were 13-3 Flames (12-1 Flames at five-on-five) and five-on-five scoring chances were 16-3 Flames (high-dangers were 6-2 Flames).

The Flames killed off a late third period penalty that carried over into overtime, then drew a penalty of their own. On the resulting power play, with the Flames using four forwards – Andrei Kuzmenko, Sharangovich, Jonathan Huberdeau and Kadri – Kuzmenko scored on a goal-mouth scramble to give the Flames a 3-2 victory.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1777927333758001210
<h2><strong>Why the Flames won</strong></h2>
The Flames were not all that good in the first 10-12 minutes of this game. They were shaky and didn't seem to play as a connected group. But after being down in shots 7-2 at one point, they really started figuring themselves out. They were pretty strong for the last 40-48 minutes of the game. (They out-shot the Sharks 38-15 after that initial slow start.)

The power play was also quite good, scoring twice, and the penalty kill was good, too, allowing zero goals.

<em><strong>Flames Game Day content is presented by Betway!</strong></em>
<h2><a href="https://betway.com/bwp/flamesnation/en-ca/?utm_source=228386&amp;utm_medium=Affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=AFF4115833285422425"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-123581" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/1266225-_Podcast_Flames_Nation_1920x1080-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" /></a></h2>
<h2><strong>Red Warrior</strong></h2>
Let's give this jointly to Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar. Each guy played north of 26 minutes and were consistently noticeable in all three zones.
<h2><strong>Turning point</strong></h2>
Blake Coleman took a cross-checking minor with 1:16 left in regulation. The Flames did a really nice job killing that man advantage to get to extra time.
<h2><strong>This and that</strong></h2>
Andrew Mangiapane returned after missing five games due to injury. Oliver Kylington missed the game after suffering an upper-body injury late in Saturday's game. Dustin Wolf started in his hometown – he was born in nearby Gilroy, California – and former Sharks defender Nikita Okhotiuk played against his former team. Ilya Solovyov also dressed after being called up on Monday from the AHL.

Martin Pospisil squished Calen Addison into the glass in the first period (and received a boarding minor for it).

https://twitter.com/MyFryHole/status/1777896433183773131
<h2><strong>Up next</strong></h2>
The Flames (35-37-5) are off to Southern California. They'll face the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

Calgary Flames Post-Game: Flames overcome slow start, slay Sharks with special teams

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